U.S. edition of Copa America soccer tourney will take place mostly in big NFL arenas

PASADENA, CA - OCTOBER 10: A general view of the field during the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup Qualifier at Rose Bowl on October 10, 2015 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)
(2015 Getty Images)

The Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida, CenturyLink Field in Seattle and Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, are among the 10 venues for the 2016 Copa America Centenario.

The other venues and cities for the June 3-26 tournament announced Thursday by CONCACAF and local organizers: MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey; the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California; Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts; Soldier Field in Chicago; NRG Stadium in Houston; Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia; and University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Organizers opted for bigger NFL stadiums instead of MLS stadiums available in some cities. Most venues will host at least three games. The cities and venues for the opening game and the final were not announced.

"These 10 cities and venues will provide a fantastic setting for fans across the world to attend Copa America Centenario and allow them to see the amazing passion for soccer in the United States," U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said.

The 16-team tournament includes Argentina, Brazil and the rest of the 10 members of the South American confederation, known as CONMEBOL, plus six teams from CONCACAF: the U.S., Mexico, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and the winners of playoffs on Jan. 8 between Cuba and Panama, and Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago.